The Church Part 5

Romans 14 is a convicting chapter! (Great start to a blog post, yeah?? And so let that be your invitation to read the rest!)

"Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand" (v.4).

This is in the context of differing opinions about eating or not eating meat, meeting or not meeting on Sundays, etc., but I think it can also apply to my views toward the church. I have sinned frequently and in many ways toward my brothers and sisters in this culture by judging what they do and say or what they don't do and don't say. But who am I to say what is right or best?! God is their Master, who is able to make them stand, just as He is my Master and constantly makes me stand in all my failures. 

Lord, humble me, and remind me that I am no different and that you are the same Master who chooses to use each of us lumps of clay. Help me to keep this eternal perspective: "But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.' So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this--not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way" (v. 10-13). 

Rather than judge the church, I pray God uses me to build up and edify my brothers and sisters, while at the same time learning from them. He continues to lead me to repentance in His kindness and continues to humble me, which I am so grateful for. I still have a lot of humbling and molding and learning to go, but I'm grateful that that's the work of the Potter who loves me and is patient with me and has my good wrapped up in HIs glory. I'm grateful for a God who is slow to anger, a God who sent HIs Son to take the judgment and wrath I deserved. 

"So then, we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another" (v. 19). God, in light of the gospel and in light of who you are, may I be a lump of clay who pursues peace and the building up of my brothers and sisters.